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rhifyn 1164 issue 1164
8 Chwefror 2021 8 February 2021
gair rhydd Cardiff University’s student paper | Established 1972
Gair Rhydd wins Best Publication at the 2021 SPA Regional Conference Wales! Cardiff University testing system called 'fatally flawed' Tirion Davies
Editor-in-Chief
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he manager of Cardiff University’s COVID-19 testing system has criticised the system, saying he stepped down from the role due to the system being “fatally flawed”. Speaking with the BBC, Neil Evans said he did not believe results from the testing system were reliable ahead of the system’s launch before the autumn semester. Evans claims the university were too eager to begin the rollout, and did so before the system was ready. Mr Evans left his role as manager in September and Cardiff University’s system began in October. Cardiff University has an asymptomatic screening service (meaning a test for students and staff without symptoms who may still be a carrier of COVID-19), aimed at stopping the spread of the virus amongst staff and students. The University maintains its screening service was never intended to be asymptomatic testing service, noting that all positive tests would be confirmed by an NHS test. Cardiff University said their screening service has been successful in identifying hundreds of asymptomatic cases which were further confirmed by NHS testing. The testing system at Cardiff University involves students and staff giving a saliva sample, which undergoes a PCR swab test, where students and staff will get their results usually within 48 hours. The saliva-based testing used by the University is based on FDA protocols used in the United States of America, where studies have shown that saliva testing is often as sensitive in terms of viral load. People with a positive test from the university will then be asked to get a NHS COVID-19 test to confirm their results. According to Mr Evans, who worked as a service manager at the Cardiff University testing centre in August and September whilst the system was still being developed, the university were attempting to introduce the service “at pace”, before the system was ready.
Mr Evans believes the university needed more time to validate the system so that false positives and false negatives would not occur. Mr Evans told the BBC, “You couldn’t trust the test results, fundamentally there’s no trust in any of the test results. So all of those students will be giving saliva under false pretences that you can get a result back either positive or negative”. “The whole process needed a few more months and a bit more validation, a bit more accreditation, a bit more forethought and then, yes, it would have been a really good service” he added. Cardiff University has rejected Mr Evans’ claims, with a Cardiff University spokesperson noting, “We completely reject the claim that our screening service was not ready to go live”. A Cardiff University spokesperson has claimed that the University does recognise, however, that there were initially some reservations about testing asymptomatic individuals during the summer of 2020. Despite this, the University maintains that cases of asymptomatic individuals were contributing to the spread of COVID-19, and that asymptomatic cases of COVID are more common amongst young adults. A spokesperson continued, saying the Cardiff University validation processes are vigourous and thorough, basing their result on “wellestablished PCR technology with 4 independent loci using multiplex technology”. “During the summer of 2020 and after discussion with PHW, we were acutely aware of the fact that public health (NHS) labaratories used a swab-based PCR test, and that supplies of test reagents and swabs were in global short supply”. “We used our expertise to build a screening pipeline that did not compete for equipment and reagents in demand by the NHS; in this way we would build a complementary service rather than compete with critically short reagants.” Cardiff University notes any staff or student with symptoms of COVID-19 should always get a secondary test with the NHS to confirm whether or not they have the virus.
COVID-19 vaccine: After a slow start, the first four priority groups in Wales will receive a first dose of the vaccine. Source: US Secretary of Defense (via Wikimedia Commons)
COVID-19 vaccine roll-out on track Sam Portillo News Editor
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elsh vaccinators have provided a first dose of the COVID-19 jab to 62 percent of people in the top four priority groups, according to new figures from Public Health Wales. After a faulty start, this means the country is now on track to meet its mid-February target for 100 percent
R T Davies head of Welsh Conservatives Morgan Perry Politics Editor
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ndrew R T Davies has been confirmed as the new head of the Welsh Conservative Party after the resignation of Paul Davies, following an alleged breach of COVID-19 regulations. Davies has been re-elected as Party Leader following the incident with Paul Davies, who resigned on January 23. Andrew R. T. Davies will now lead the Welsh Conservative Party into the Senedd elections this coming May. To read more about the re-appointment of Andrew R.T. Davies, turn to page 10. 10
coverage. The first dose of the vaccine is contuining to go to vulnerable individuals across Wales before they will begin recalling patients for their booster vaccine to enhance their immunity against the virus. During the initial stages of the vaccine mass roll-out in December and at the beginning of the year, Wales were under scrutiny, as the nation was behind other parts of the UK in administering the vaccine.
Around 80 percent of over-80s and health workers have now received their first dose of the vaccine, meaning Wales is back on track. Wales has since been floating at the top of the global leaderboard for administering vaccines. Turn to page 3 to learn more about Wales' vaccine roll-out tactics, what we know so far, and clarification on when students are likely to get their first dose. 3
Eisteddfod yn The Six Nations cael ei ohirio eto breakdown Nel Richards
Golygydd Taf-od
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e fydd yn flwyddyn arall heb gymdeithasu mewn cae, pabell na stondin Eisteddfodol. Mae'r cyhoeddiad wedi dod bod Eisteddfod Genedlaethol 2021 yn Nhregaron wedi'i ohirio am flwyddyn yn ychwanegol. Bydd yr Eisteddfod nawr yn cael ei gynnal yn Nhregaron yn Awst 2022. Ceir y newyddion yn fuan wedi i ni clywed na fydd Eisteddfod yr Urdd yn cael ei chynnal eleni chwaith, o ganlyniad i'r cyfnod clo a COVID-19. I ddarllen yn fwy am beth sy'n digwydd i'r Eisteddfod, a'r effaith y bydd hyn yn cael ar diwylliant Cymru, trowch i dudalen 8. 8
Tom Walker
Head of Sport
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s we prepare for the 2021 Six Nations tournament, Gair Rhydd Sport give a run-dow n of what's to come, what's to expect and predictions from the team. In a year unlike any other, the Six Nations will be operating slightly differently to usual, with the Welsh team having to face no fire from a home crowd. After the news of Josh Adams' suspension from the Welsh team following allegations of breaking COVID-19 restrictions, it'll be an interesting championship. To read more about this year's Six Nations, and predictions from our 24 team, head to page 24.